How to pronounce zealous
Say it like ZEL-us. Zealous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ZEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce zealous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZEL
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zealous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of zealous
American and British speakers say zealous in essentially the same way: /ˈzɛləs/ in the US and /ˈzɛləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZEL-us.
What does zealous mean?
- Full of zeal; ardent, fervent; exhibiting enthusiasm or strong passion, particularly in matters of religion.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with zealous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of zealous.
Questions about saying zealous
How do you pronounce zealous?
Say ZEL-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈzɛləs/. In British English it is /ˈzɛləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in zealous?
Zealous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ZEL). Broken into parts: ZEL · us.
Do Americans and Brits say zealous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈzɛləs/ and the British form is /ˈzɛləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.